Is My ADHD Medication Dose Right? A 2026 Guide for Adults in the UK
You waited months, maybe years, for your ADHD diagnosis. You started medication. And now you're wondering: is this it?
If you're an adult in the UK managing ADHD medication, you've probably asked yourself whether what you're feeling is normal, whether your dose is right, or whether you should be experiencing more (or less) of an effect. The truth is, finding the right medication and dose isn't always straightforward, especially when NHS follow-ups can be months apart and you're left second-guessing between appointments.
This guide will help you recognise the signs that your medication might need reviewing and give you practical steps to take if you think something's not quite right.
What "Right Dose" Means for Adults with ADHD
When ADHD medication is working well, you'll typically notice meaningful improvements in day-to-day life. This might look like being able to start tasks without the usual paralysis, following through on commitments more consistently, making fewer impulsive decisions you later regret, or simply feeling like you have more mental bandwidth to manage work, relationships, and basic admin.
The goal isn't perfection. You're not aiming to become a different person or eliminate every ADHD trait you've ever had. What you're looking for is "better and sustainable" - a dose that gives you noticeable benefit without side effects that make you feel awful or unlike yourself. Some people describe it as feeling like they've finally got access to the tools everyone else seems to have had all along.
Signs Your ADHD Medication Might Be Too Low
If your medication dose is too low, you might still be struggling with the same patterns that led you to seek diagnosis in the first place. You're still finding it nearly impossible to focus on tasks that aren't urgent or interesting, you start things but can't finish them, and you're constantly dropping the ball on commitments even when you genuinely care about them.
The improvements you do notice might be small and short-lived. Perhaps you feel a bit sharper for an hour or two, but the effect wears off quickly and doesn't translate into real changes at work, university, or home. You might still be relying heavily on last-minute panic, pulling all-nighters to meet deadlines, or exhausting yourself with masking strategies just to get through the day.
Essentially, if life still feels just as hard as it did before medication, your dose may not be therapeutic yet.
Signs Your ADHD Medication Might Be Too High or Not Suited to You
On the other end of the spectrum, medication that's too high or simply doesn't suit you can create its own problems. You might notice increased anxiety, irritability, or a feeling of being "wired" in an uncomfortable way. Some people describe over-focusing on the wrong things or feeling so locked-in that they can't shift attention when they need to.
Physical side effects are common warning signs too: trouble sleeping even when you're exhausted, noticeable appetite loss that's affecting your health, heart pounding or racing, physical jitters, or feeling shaky. These symptoms suggest your body is working too hard to process the medication.
Perhaps most concerning is feeling unlike yourself - emotionally flat or blunted, disconnected from the things you used to enjoy, or experiencing new symptoms that worry you. If medication is making you feel worse overall, even if some ADHD symptoms improve, that's not a trade-off worth accepting.
How ADHD Titration Works in the UK (NHS, Right to Choose, Private)
Titration is the process of gradually adjusting your medication dose to find the sweet spot where you get maximum benefit with minimum side effects. In the UK, this is typically managed by a psychiatrist or specialist nurse prescriber who'll start you on a low dose and increase it slowly over weeks or months, monitoring your response at each stage.
The process can feel frustratingly slow, especially when you've waited so long just to start treatment. Standard NHS pathways might schedule reviews every 4-6 weeks initially, though this can stretch longer once you're stable. If you accessed diagnosis through NHS Right to Choose, your titration might happen through the same provider or transfer back to local NHS services, depending on your area. Private clinics typically offer more frequent reviews and faster adjustments, though you'll be paying for that flexibility.
Whoever's managing your care, the principle is the same: start low, go slow, and make evidence-based changes based on what you're experiencing.
When (and How) to Ask for a Medication Review
You should request a medication review if you're noticing a consistent pattern of side effects, if you're genuinely not feeling any benefit after several weeks at your current dose, if your life circumstances have changed significantly (new job, relationship breakdown, health diagnosis), or if you've developed new health issues that might interact with your ADHD medication.
When you contact your prescriber or GP, you don't need to downplay what you're experiencing. You might say something like: "Since starting methylphenidate, I've noticed my heart rate is consistently elevated and I'm only sleeping 4-5 hours a night, even though my focus hasn't really improved." Or: "I've been on 30mg for three months now and I'm still struggling with the same organisational problems I had before medication. I'd like to discuss whether an increase might be appropriate."
The more specific you can be, the better. Bring notes to your appointment - a symptom diary, examples of side effects with dates and times, or concrete examples from work or home that illustrate what's happening. Your prescriber can't see your daily life, so you're giving them crucial information they need to make good decisions.
What You Can Track Between Appointments
Tracking your response to ADHD medication doesn't need to be complicated. The most useful information includes how your focus and concentration are holding up throughout the day, your overall energy levels, whether your appetite has changed, your mood and emotional regulation, sleep quality and duration, and any physical symptoms like increased heart rate or palpitations.
The easiest ADHD-friendly tracking methods are often the simplest. You might rate each area on a 0-10 scale once a day, do a quick weekly check-in where you note what's better and what's worse, or just keep rough notes in your phone whenever something feels off. The goal isn't perfect data collection - it's noticing patterns over time. Even imperfect tracking will help you spot trends that might not be obvious day-to-day.
When to Seek Urgent Help
Some symptoms require immediate attention rather than waiting for your next routine review. If you experience severe chest pain, difficulty breathing, thoughts of suicide or self-harm, sudden and severe mood changes or behaviour that frightens you, hallucinations or paranoia, or any other symptom that feels genuinely dangerous, you need urgent medical care.
In these situations, contact 999 or go to A&E. Don't wait for your next appointment or convince yourself you're overreacting. ADHD medication is generally safe, but serious side effects do happen, and they need immediate assessment.
How a Specialist ADHD Clinic Can Help
When you're struggling to get your medication right, working with a specialist ADHD clinic can make a significant difference. Clinicians who focus specifically on adult ADHD understand the nuances of different medications, the typical titration patterns, and the common challenges that arise during treatment. They can offer structured medication reviews that go beyond a quick check-in, considering whether a dose adjustment might help, whether a different medication might suit you better, or whether non-medication strategies could support your treatment.
Focus Gently is launching soon to support adults across the UK who need specialist ADHD care without the 24-month NHS wait. We're currently completing our CQC registration and will be offering comprehensive ADHD medication reviews alongside our assessment and ongoing care services.
Next Steps If You're Not Sure Your Dose Is Right
If you're reading this and recognising yourself, here's what to do: start noticing patterns in how you feel and function on your current medication, write down specific examples of what's not working (or what side effects you're experiencing), book a review with your current prescriber, and go into that appointment with your notes and clear questions.
If you're already diagnosed but struggling to get the medication support you need, you don't have to wait indefinitely for your next NHS appointment. Focus Gently will be accepting patients for medication reviews and ongoing ADHD care from spring 2026.
Join our priority waitlist to be first to know when we launch and receive early access to appointments, or complete our quick medication check-in form so we can understand your needs and contact you as soon as we're able to help.
Finding the right ADHD medication and dose can genuinely change your life - but only if the dose is actually right for you. You don't have to just accept "good enough" when better is possible.
